Duke of York, Todmorden

Before starting our walk along the Rochdale canal, my companion and I called in here for a preparatory pint, because that journey by train from Sheffield really takes it out of you. The bar counter on the right extends from the front room to the back (where there's a pool table), and the latter is where we found two hand pumps. One had the pump clip turned around - the licencee told us they were both from local Eagles Crag Brewery, and the one that remained for us to drink was their Jester Pale 4.3%. This seemed pretty decent to start off with, but the more I drank the more I noticed an odd flavour that I hadn't noticed at first. I don't know this beer at all, but I don't think it was a brewing fault, perhaps not enough had been pulled through before serving us the first of the day. There was something unfinished about this pub, but maybe it was just that the room on the left had a dance floor and no furniture, except in the carpeted bay window. This is my first visit to Tod for a number of years, and I don't know if I'll ever be back, but if so then I'll perhaps make sure someone else drinks the first beer out of the tap.